[Vol. 7] Chapter 152: Illusion, Reality, and Truth
No one was going to give Violet an answer to this question anytime soon. But no matter what secrets were hidden behind the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard] hotel, they weren’t the most pressing issue right now.
After all, she wasn’t part of the Austre Empire’s intelligence agency.
After crossing the short stone bridge, a softly glowing door came into view, blocking the entire pathway ahead. Clearly, this was the only way forward.
Just in case, Violet took the hands of the two little girls beside her and nodded toward the maids following behind. Then, she stepped through the door.
—Shwoosh!
The scenery around them changed completely once again.
The fresh, tranquil atmosphere vanished in an instant, replaced by a grand and luxurious ballroom, like something out of a medieval noble’s castle. Yet infused with a dreamlike, fantastical aura.
"Wow! This place is amazing!"
Lenka’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Out of everyone here, she was the only one who truly came from a noble background, so she had the sharpest understanding of how valuable this place really was.
Despite the vastness of the hall, so large that the far end was barely visible, every detail was crafted with unparalleled luxury.
The walls and ceiling looked as if they were made of pure jade and glass, with every brick and tile carved from priceless gemstones.
At the center of the ballroom, a massive crystal chandelier, far larger than anything reasonable, hung high above, accompanied by countless ornate lanterns, radiating soft, pure light, as if they had stepped into a celestial palace from legend.
Of course, this was an illusion.
But in a way, it was also real.
Once again, the City of Miracles had proven why it deserved its name.
At this moment, the grand ballroom was already bustling with representatives from various nations and academies.
Some groups had settled into reserved areas, quietly enjoying the exquisite food and wine as they waited for the banquet to begin.
Others had already gathered in small clusters, chatting with their allies and friends before the night’s events unfolded.
Though the hall was lively, it didn’t feel overwhelmingly noisy. The vast space, combined with the way the environment seemed designed to dampen sound, made the overall atmosphere pleasantly subdued rather than chaotic.
What stood out the most, however, was the lack of servers and maids. Normally, a banquet of this scale would require a large staff constantly moving about to keep things running smoothly. But instead of bustling attendants, the hall was filled with heavily armed security guards, most of whom stood idly by, simply watching rather than actively intervening.
Before Violet and her group could take a closer look, a young woman in a butler uniform, unchanged from her usual attire, approached them with a friendly smile. With a teasing tone, she spoke up as soon as they arrived.
"Lady Violet and other ladies, you all look so stunning tonight that it's almost impossible to look away. If I weren’t the event host, and a woman myself, I’d have no choice but to invite you for a dance~"
The black-haired girl let out a small laugh and shook her head.
"Oh, cut it out, Yulia. If I remember correctly, vampire culture doesn’t exactly frown upon same-sex marriage. Not like you guys even rely on that for reproduction anyway."
"Good evening, Sister Yulia!"
Lenka immediately greeted the elder sister who had been taking care of them in the academy. The others also acknowledged her in their own way, and the headmaster’s secretary of the Sainz Academy, already quite familiar with the group, could only shake her head helplessly with a smile.
"Lady Violet, please be careful to maintain some personal privacy in public, okay? I am, after all, representing Sainz Academy right now..."
After exchanging a few casual words, Yulia got straight to the point.
"You all arrived a little earlier than I expected. Honestly, given your usual style, Lady Violet, I thought you’d make a dramatic entrance at the very last moment... But this works out just fine. Since we have time, let me show you around and introduce you to some of the unique aspects of [Fantasy Sky Courtyard]."
She gestured forward.
"Please, follow me."
With Yulia leading the way, Violet and the others no longer had to wander around aimlessly like headless flies. She guided them on a quick tour of the area, helping them get familiar with the main sections before finding a place to settle down.
Though this space looked fantastical, its entrance and exit were fixed and shared, meaning every guest who entered would immediately be greeted by waiting attendants, ready to act as guides. That was probably why the head maid had noticed them so quickly.
“Everyone, you’ve probably already experienced some of the unique aspects of the [Fantasy Sky Courtyard] hotel on your way here. This hotel uses the academy’s latest cutting-edge technology. First-time guests might find it a bit unfamiliar, but after using it once or twice, you’ll understand just how convenient it is. Let me show you.”
She led them to a massive dining table not far from the seating area. Though several maids stood nearby, the table itself appeared completely empty. Then, with a light press of Yulia’s palm on the surface, glowing text suddenly appeared, floating like a holographic display.
Turning back with a smile, Yulia explained, “This is the dining station. You’ll find similar ones all around the ballroom. If you want food or drinks, all you need to do is what I just did, and then…”
"Whoosh~"
As she spoke, she tapped one of the glowing words on the table. In an instant, a plate of freshly grilled meat, still steaming with heat, materialized out of thin air, leaving the group staring in amazement.
"Gulp…"
Lenka, remembering how Violet had mentioned that this place could turn 'fantasy' into 'reality,' quickly wiped away the drool forming at the corner of her mouth. But she hesitated.
"Um… can we really eat this?"
Yulia chuckled and nodded, picking up a clean tray and handing it to her.
"Why not? Even though the food here isn't made from real ingredients or cooked by actual chefs, its taste, texture, nutritional value, and even how filling it is are no different from real food. As someone involved in this project, I can assure you that this 'fantasy' is just as good as the real thing. Otherwise, the academy wouldn’t be using it to entertain esteemed guests from all over the world."
Yulia added with a playful smile, "Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s no cost to making food. So please take only what you need. If you're caught wasting food, you might just get a spanking~"
"Uh… okay, then…?"
Still a little unsure, Lenka turned to the priestess for confirmation. Seeing her give a slight nod, Lenka finally accepted the plate of grilled meat. She carefully picked up a piece with a fork and took a bite.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Oh…! This is amazing! I've never had grilled meat this perfect before! The heat, the seasoning, everything is just… How do I even describe it? Is this really food that can exist in reality? Sister Light, you have to try it too!"
"?"
Skeptical, Xiao Guang took a small bite of the piece Lenka held up to her. As someone who also loved meat, she raised an eyebrow in mild surprise and turned toward Violet.
"It really is good. It’s like… the food was created using that method described in the book?"
"Book? Oh…"
Violet blinked before quickly realizing what Xiao Guang was referring to, “The Book of Truth”, the one held by Princess Nitila of the Merfolk race. Back when they were traveling back to land aboard the Noah’s Ark, she had experimentally asked the book for a perfect grilling technique, one that was supposedly considered “Truth”.
Knowledge, fantasy, and reality…
Perhaps Xiao Guang had simply made the comparison without much thought, but for some reason, it felt oddly important.